Shadows of a Broken Future

Chapter 6

Sonic immediately straightens, his signature cocky grin appearing on his muzzle. "Well then what's going to happen and how can we stop it?" He cracks his knuckles while practically jumping in place, ready to take on whatever threat is coming. "As if anything can stand a chance against the fastest thing alive!"

I can't help but frown at his usual overconfidence.

Silver hesitates before speaking again. "It's really bad. But..." He trails off. "We can't tell you exactly what's going to happen yet."

The room groans collectively, but I just smirk, mouthing the words, 'Vaguely annoying' to him.

He shoots me a glare before continuing. "But it doesn't happen for a while! So we've got plenty of time to prepare."

Knuckles scoffs, crossing his arms. "Seriously? How are we supposed to prepare for something we know nothing about?"

I have to admit, for once, I agree with the knucklehead. They don't know anything about what's to come. But things will be different this time because I know exactly what to prepare for.

Silver just awkwardly laughs, unsure how to answer the echidna's question.

Rose, sensing the growing tension, steps in, her voice calm and authoritative. "How about we pick this up tomorrow hm? We've all had a long day-fighting Eggman, Shadow getting knocked out, then Eggman coming back again-and now this." She gestures to Silver and Blaze. "How about we all head home and get some well needed rest?"

Rouge yawns and stretches. "I second that."

"Well," Amy continues, "I've already discussed with Blaze that she'll be staying with me for now since I've got a spare room." She the pauses and turns to Silver. "Hmm so Silver can stay with-?"

"Oh, I'm already staying with a friend" Silver responds quickly, smiling nervously.

"You are?" Blaze raises an eyebrow.

Silver chuckles awkwardly. "Yeah, you didn't think you guys were my only friends did you?"

...

Rose claps her hands together, pleased with the arrangements. "Perfect then! Everything's settled! So-"

Just as she was about to go on, I stand up, cutting her off. "Enough of this. I'm going back to the base. I'm tired."

"The base?" Rouge raised an eyebrow. "What base?"

I pause, the memory of Eggman's destruction flooding back. Back then, Omega and I had cobbled together a shabby little base to call home. But now, I'm back, with a real house-a proper place to stay. "Oh, right" I mutter, trying to brush off my discomfort. "I meant my house."

Rouge's face softens with concern. "Shadow hun your house was destroyed last week by Eggman. You've been waiting for G.U.N to repair it."

I try to focus. It's hard to remember everything as it all feels like so long ago. Oh right... it got destroyed in the crossfire during one of our battles with Eggman. I was fucking furious at that because I had nowhere to go. I would have preferred to stay anywhere then at G.U.N HQ and Rouge started to live in the club, I mean the club did have rooms but I wasn't sure how... sanitary they would be. Then where was I staying again? I try to recall... Ah.

"Right, the alleyway near the coffee shop" I mumble. It wasn't much, but at the time it was somewhere I could be alone without anyone bothering me.

"You're staying in a dirty alleyway?" Rouge shouts, horrified.

"Crap" I mutter under my breath. Of course the stupid bat heard me.

"Why didn't you mention this sooner?" she scolds. "When you said you found a place to stay, I thought it would have a roof!"